About Us

AH! So you just published your book! You are looking for reviews? Need some help to spread the word across social media?

Yeah, me too! Join me as I explore ideas, thrash out concerns and observations, and look into new ways to push a burgeoning, and profitable, social traffic.

I am Virginia, the editor and publisher of historical author and grandfather, Patrick John “Stanley McShane” Rose. Like he, I’m short of time and money. Professing to be a “sailor, prospector, miner, and cowpoke,” he had a lifetime of experiences to write about, which the scalawag did in the late 20s/early 1930s.

McShane left me a trunk full of his manuscripts, short stories, poems, and paintings for publication, in eloquent Victorian-style hand-written instructions. Back then, they didn’t have self-publishing available. I published “Cocos Island Treasure” first. Please see my book page for a complete list of the six books, descriptions, and links for purchase. Talk about a learning curve! Self-published means you will probably spend more time in marketing and promotion than creating the plot, researching, re-writing, and editing than writing the original novel. (Then opens Pandora’s box!)

The push for sales includes begging for reviews. And now with the advent of social media, comes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Linked In, book trailers, and blogs–the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Grandpa–you owe me–Big Time!

If I’m not writing articles, I’m reading or reviewing for you! Please read my Submission Guideline page for information on how to submit your review request. I post my reviews on Amazon as well as Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, and I am a member of NetGalley. My posts are linked to Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

I love comments, ideas, sharing, and followers! And I want to hear your experiences as you struggle on the same path. Contact me at stanleymcshane@yahoo.com. (But please remember my name is not Stanley–I’m Virginia.) Better yet–follow this blog and let’s share what we’ve learned!

Hi Rosepoint Thank you so much for visiting my book site. I do only read & review paperbacks or hardbacks. If you have any books that you would like me to review for you that you think would suit my reviewing blog please email me on ireadnovels@aol.com.

Thanks so much for your kind review on Amazon. It lead me here and to your grandfather’s books. I’ve downloaded one right away and can’t wait for the kiddos to go back to school so I can dive into it. Nautical themes, historic personal accounts, adventure: sounds right up my alley! He truly seems to have lead a very interesting life and how wonderful that you’ve granted his wishes of publishing them. I will be sure to leave a review for him once I’m finished. Thanks again!

Just want to say thanks to V. Williams of Rose Point Publishing for her great review of my novel, SILVER’S ODYSSEY, on Amazon !
We obviously share a love of history and enjoy writing about it.
Also, your website/blog is most interesting !

Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective.
A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and appearance. I must say you have done a amazing job with this. Also, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Chrome. Outstanding Blog!

Seriously, I’m blown away by your posts and I can’t help but think my grandfather would be beyond amazed (AND gratified!). It makes me sick this was stolen from you as I’d have LOVED to see it. I have so few of his little paintings, all meant to illustrate his manuscripts which they were apparently to do late 20’s early 30’s when he was trying to publish his works. His passion was the sea and he lived out his remaining years in Long Beach, CA. Knowledge of his ships was extensive, as was some whaling experiences he never wished to relive. Definitely an adventurer–he wrote so many stories, most of which under his pen name Stanley McShane as his paintings were also signed. Intimate knowledge of fishing in the North Sea, English ports all the way to Africa, described in detail. Unfortunately, details about his life SO sketchy–I grab at anything that might give me another clue. How did you come by the little painting and poem? Of 4 grandchildren, I was the one who showed interest–indeed–tried painting as well. I was the recipient of his trunk when he died in 1959; full of manuscripts, little stories, a few of his little paintings, and letters of instruction on how to submit them for publication. Now in the twilight of MY years, and technology what it has become, I have the time and passion to leave these to his dwindling family and interested persons. Gary, I opened a Facebook page months ago under the name of Stanley McShane (recommendation from Amazon). I’d LOVE it if you would go and leave a comment and, by the way, I also live in the beautiful Treasure Valley. Have you checked Amazon.com for his books? They are available both in paperback and Kindle form.

Being given a painting depicting a two master at sea, combined with the poem about sailing in dangerous waters the far away deep, I felt I posessed a true treasure to a young boy curious about such matters.

Since my loss of the painting, I still retained in my minds eye, the signature found on the painting, that of course, being Stanley McShane. I have searched the internet for a very long time, trying to perhaps find some mention of this traveler/painter/poet, of this singular work, that entralled me so many years ago, as a young boy in southern California.
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I did not know if what I had what might be a painting done by someone who just happened to enjoy painting about far away places, or if in fact it was done by someone who had really experienced the subject matter. The descriptive poem on the back left me believing that this Stanley McShane was in fact, a real person.

It was during one of my on line searches that I had the good fortune to find mention of this most interesting man, a world traveler known as Stanley McShane, and to further discover that in actuality, this was likely a nom de plume, or pen name, which can complicate searches.

In any case, my loss now is somewhat tempered by the fact that I have finally found your blog, which further leads me now to believe this man did live what he wrote and painted.

It is interesting what value people place on such things, but this painting to me, was irreplaceable, as was the poem on the back of the painting.

Now, finally, in the twilight of my years, I have at last FOUND YOU, Stanley McShane: You are REAL!
Regards,

Back in the 50’s I was given a small oil painting signed by Stanley McShane.
The painting depicted a masted sailing ship of many earlier years vintage, plying rough waters. On the back of the framed painting was a poem about the adventures and dangers of sailing the worlds oceans.
Sadly, however, the painting was stolen from my home some time back, apparently by a disgruntled workman, whom I had to fire, telling him to collect his tools and leave. I believe he secreted my small painting in a dropcloth on his way out of my home.

OMG, gary! so surprised by your post! that definitely would have been my grandfather! he wrote many a poem, short stories, and novels two of which i’ve now published; one still in the works, “lucky joe” hope to have out w/i a couple weeks. i have a number of his paintings (not as many as I’d like) and used several to publish Cocos Island Treasure; obviously an adventure he enjoyed. i plan to publish an anthology of his short stories and poems, probably the end of the year. heaven knows he had some tremendous experiences; this last mentioned whaling in the bering sea the winter of 1901. if i didn’t get to “hear” his stories when i was growing up; i can now through his works. how ever did you find this blog? thank you so much for your post!

I read lots of books, from mythology retellings to literary fiction and I love to reread books from childhood, this is a place to voice my thoughts for fun. I also like to ramble about things such as art or nature every now and again.

My aim is to create an extensive portfolio of my writing, featuring a range of different articles, reviews and pieces of my own writing/thoughts. I love to write about many different subjects and have a passion for Music, Books, Film & TV, Journalism, Marketing and Creative Writing/Poetry.